I am struggling to get information on my Great-grandmother Annie Drake (nee Sweeney) born in London in 1864. She was in and out of the Islington Workhouse with her children. Her husband James John Drake was in and out of prison at the beginning of their marriage. I was wondering if anyone can explain the following comment in the Discharge Column - "Not Returned from Leave". This is what was put beside my great-grandmothers name the day after she was admitted in March 1906. Her three children also in the workhouse with her had "St Giles Home" next to their names. I am presuming she didn't return to collect them and they were put into a home? This is 1906 and by now her husband seems to have a new partner Annie Smith and they had their first child in Dec 1905 in-spite of him having a child with the first Annie in March 1905 - 9 months gap. I wonder what happened to the first wife Annie Sweeney. My Dad always thought she died and James remarried, they took the older children out of care and had more children. He didn't realise that this started happening while Annie was still alive and just had a baby to him. Had she had enough and deserted them all?
